NETWORKING MAGAZINE - August/September 2021 Issue

YOUR GUIDE FOR BUSINESS NETWORKING IN THE BOCA RATON SYNAGOGUE COMMUNITY

HOW TO RECOGNIZE EMERGING BUSINESS TRENDS RENTING A CAR? 2 TIPS ABOUT CAR RENTAL INSURANCE THAT COULD SAVE YOU BIG MONEY

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1202 REBMETPES / TSUGUA

8O .ON EUSSI

NETWORKING LUCRATIVE WAYS TECHNOLOGY CAN TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS

TRUE COMFORT OF MOURNERS: ARE WE GETTING TOO COMFORTABLE WITH WHATSAPP?

THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF DIVORCE A CONSUMER'S GUIDE TO LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES

About Apollo Mediation Group Apollo Meditation Group provides Florida residents a full-service dispute resolution alternative to drawnout trials and the high cost of engaging attorneys. Our experienced mediators work patiently and collaboratively to help settle disputes.

The Apollo Mediation team has been finding creative solutions to complex problems for over 60 years. Our breadth of experience comes from working with the government, military, businesses, senior and social services, and insurance providers. We are familiar with every seat at the mediation table having the perspective of sitting there ourselves. There is no substitute for experience in life or litigation.

Practice Areas Labor & Employment Elder & Disability Law Business to Business Insurance Construction & Real Estate Personal Injury Malpractice

Contact: (888) 844-9753 info@apollomediation.com apollomediation.com

Call for a free consultation :

(888) 844-9753

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

NET WORK ING brsng.org

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TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 2 How To Recognize Emerging Business Trends

PAGE 4 Getting To Know You: BRSNG Member Spotlight

PAGE 6 Welcoming Our Newest BRSNG Members

HI THERE!

Over the past year and a half, the business landscape across the globe has rapidly changed. Technology is advancing at a faster pace today than it ever has before and it’s up to businesses to keep up to avoid being left behind. This edition of NETWORKING is all about technology & business.

In this issue you'll find many fascinating articles written by our very own BRSNG members. Page 2 explores How to Recognize Emerging Business Trends. Marc Bienenfeld presents A Consumer’s Guide to Life Insurance Policies on page 7.

Deborah Beylus writes about The Financial Side of Divorce on page 10. Learn about 5 Lucrative Ways Technology Can Transform Your Business on page 11 shared by Gila Stern. Page 13 explores True Comfort of Mourners: Are We Getting Too Comfortable with WhatsApp in an article by Rabbi Jay Lyons. Stuart Silverman shares Rosh Hashana - a New Year for You & Your Florida Business on page 15.

Our members spotlight is Jessica Weiss, Immigration Attorney at Weiss & Moy, PC beginning on page 4.

We are excited to share that BRSNG members proudly generated more than $200,000 in revenue through referrals and networking.

For the first time in over a year BRSNG hosted a happy hour which was generously sponsored by Physical Therapy Now. Over 75 people came out to network and enjoy the evening. We would also like to thank Lox N Bagel for hosting our monthly breakfast as well as Cinnaholic for providing delicious treats at each event.

You can find contact information for all our members in the Member Directory beginning on page 19. Also, don’t forget to follow our BRSNG Facebook page.

We’d love to hear from you so reach out at any time!

Gila Stern

Marc Bienenfeld

Editor-In-Chief & Co-Chair 561-929-6536 gila.stern@sparxiq.com

Editor & Co-Chair 305-778-4744 Mbienenfeld@blsfinancial.com

PAGE 7 A Consumer's Guide to Life Insurance Policies

PAGE 10 The Financial Side of Divorce

PAGE 11 5 Lucrative Ways Technology Can Transform Your Business

PAGE 13 True Comfort of Mourners: Are We Getting Too Comfortable with WhatsApp?

PAGE 15 Rosh Hashana: A New Year For You & Your Florida Business

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Renting a Car? 2 Tips about Car Rental Insurance That Could Save You Big Money

PAGE 19 Behind the Scenes

PAGE 20 Member Directory

CONTRIBUTORS Daniel Oppenheimer Gila Stern Marc Bienenfeld Deborah Beylus Rabbi Jay Lyons Stuart Silverman, Esq.

BECOME A MEMBER

APPLY ONLINE

www.brsng.org

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HOW TO RECOGNIZE SMALL BUSINESS TRENDS: WHAT'S ON THE HORIZON? Business owners need to pay attention to emerging business trends to stay competitive. By learning what people want and expect from businesses, you can provide the best customer service possible so customers will continue to support your business in the future. You can also attract new customers by learning about different trends in purchasing.

How to recognize emerging business trends To be aware of emerging business trends, follow these steps: 1. Pay attention to the news 2. Observe what your competitors are doing 3. Practice social listening 4. Read industry reports 5. Follow industry leaders on social media

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1. Pay attention to the news Follow a few different news sources to stay current on new and emerging stories. Pay extra attention to the business section or other sections related to your industry.

Choose sources that have different perspectives so you learn a wide range of stories and opinions.

2. Observe what your competitors are doing Though it is important to be a thought leader in your industry, you still need to pay attention to what your competitors are doing. Then you can see what does well for them and what you should avoid. This can help you think of better ways to serve your clients.

3. Practice social listening Social listening involves monitoring different social media channels to see what people are saying about your business. Use social media, keyword searches and other social listening tools to gauge how customers view your company and your competitors. Likewise, read customer reviews of both your company and other companies in your industry.

4. Read industry reports Industry reports include important data such as supply, price and demand. They also indicate market trends and operations. Look for industry reports directly related to your line of business— many of them can be found online for free.

5. Follow industry leaders on social media Get connected with other industry leaders on social media to see what they are posting about their companies and the market in general. They may share insightful reports or posts about their company’s new offerings. You can see what people are commenting on their posts to get a better idea of how the public feels about their services.

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Current and emerging business trends to be ready for Here are a few current trends you should know about: Green initiatives Appealing to Gen Z Transparency Online presence User reviews Green initiatives .

More consumers are becoming conscientious about the state of the environment and want to use their buying power to improve it. They want to support companies that are environmentally conscious and have sustainable business practices. Look at your current business model to find ways you could have less of an environmental impact. Some ideas to be more green include:

Go paperless: Only use digital means of communication and marketing. If you’re in retail, offer customers the option to have their receipt emailed to them instead of printed.

Offer remote positions: If some of your employees could do their work from home, give them the option to work remotely. This cuts down on emissions from their commute to work.

Hire an environmental consultant: They can look at your business operations and think of ways you can cut back on your environmental impact.

Use natural light: If your office has a lot of windows that let in natural light, turn off your office lights on sunny days to conserve energy.

Appealing to Gen Z As Generation Z enters the workforce, they’ll start generating disposable income. Use social listening to learn their interests, opinions and values and begin forming marketing approaches.

Transparency Due to the internet and social media, the market is more saturated than ever. Consumers want to support authentic businesses that are transparent about their practices. That means having ethical working conditions, fair pay for employees, diverse staff and sustainable practices. When you are proud of what your company does, convey it in your marketing and social media communications.

Source: https://www.indeed.com/hire/c/info/business-trends? gclid=CjwKCAjw87SHBhBiEiwAukSeUSVxMTkYLEfp8_mIm7Gtg1yYo Ttd_uL5Ryo7awqRBH_SuG5cqiOwQxoCIoQQAvD_BwE&aceid=

Online presence Most people purchase at least some products online. Even if you have a brick and mortar store, it may be a good idea to also give people a way to purchase your goods or services online.

Having an updated website that can be viewed on both desktop and mobile devices is crucial for your company.

People want to research your company before buying your goods or services. Likewise, make sure your business listing is accurate so people know where your location is, when your store is open and how to contact you by phone or email.

User reviews User reviews on popular review websites will only continue to impact your business. Many people read reviews before deciding if they want to support your business. By providing quality customer service, more people will be likely to leave you good reviews. If you receive a negative review, reach out to the customer directly to resolve the situation. You could even politely comment on the review, apologize for their poor experience and find a way to make it better.

Business trends FAQs These are two of the most frequently asked questions about business trends: How important is it for my business to have a social media presence?

A social media presence for your business is becoming increasingly important as more people use social media. If you want to engage and connect with customers, then you should make social media accounts for your business. Do some research to see which social media platforms your target audience is using so you know where to focus your energy.

How can I use search engines to help me find trends?

When using a search engine to find trends, search specific keywords in the news section. For example, if you are in the automotive industry, search "cars," "auto" and "automotive industry." You can also set up search engine alerts for specific keywords to have related news articles emailed to you every day. Set an alert for your company’s name to see if you’re ever mentioned in the news.

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GETTING TO KNOW YOU:

JESSICA WEISS, ESQ. Immigration Attorney Weiss & Moy, PC WHAT DO YOU DO?

I am an Immigration Attorney with an emphasis on family and employment based immigration matters. I have a strong concentration in sports immigration providing visa assistance to professional athletes from around the world and do a significant amount of work with foreign investor visa cases. I also educate small and large groups in my field through conferences and seminars, as education in my field is critical to making the right decisions in it.

WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR CAREER? Most rewarding is allowing family members to be able to reunite and live close to their loved ones that are from foreign countries and hearing the gratitude from not just the immigrant but the family as well. When a clientfeels no one can help them and they give me a shot and I succeed at their case, drawing on my expertise to develop a legal strategy to overcome difficult issues, that is certainly rewarding and there are people in the BRS community I have been able to help in this way.

One other area I do a lot of work in is a category for extraordinary ability applicants. Often my clients will tell me that they aren't so extraordinary and worry they will not qualify.

There are a list of criteria and if we are able to meet 3 of the 9 they can have a successful case.

"MOST REWARDING IS ALLOWING FAMILY MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO REUNITE AND LIVE CLOSE TO THEIR LOVED ONES THAT ARE FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND HEARING THE GRATITUDE FROM NOT JUST THE IMMIGRANT BUT THE FAMILY AS WELL." They must have national or international recognition in their field of endeavor and we prove that through extensive documentation. Evidence to prove it has come from very famous people so its been really neat to prepare documentation that government officials, prestigious athletes and famous stars sign off on. Often when their case is approved I will then tell the client that now you are officially "extraordinary". The clients very much enjoy receiving this official designation.

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"WE ARE PROUD TO ASSIST THOSE IN THE BRS COMMUNITY, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND OTHERS WISHING TO MOVE HERE, BY DEVELOPING AN IMMIGRATION STRATEGY THAT WILL WORK TO ONE DAY ENABLE THEM TO JOIN OUR BRS COMMUNITY FROM WHEREVER THEY MAY CURRENTLY LIVE IN THE WORLD." Jessica, her husband Farley Weiss and famed attorney, Alan Dershowitz. .

WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT IN YOUR FIELD? I believe that clients know that I love what I do and I care

Jessica accepting an award for Immigration Legal Services of the Year with Global Chamber in 2019

about my clients. They can feel that in the time I spend working on their paperwork and speaking to them regarding their case I realize that assisting them may mean helping them work in the US, reconnecting them

TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANY'S COMMITTMENT TO THE BRS COMMUNITY

with US family members, giving them the ability for a kid(s)

We are proud to assist those in the BRS community, their

to go to school here and creating jobs for others around them if they are a foreign investor developing a. US business. I take the time to understand their situation and try to develop the best strategy for a successful case that works for them.

WHY DO YOU FEEL YOUR SERVICES ARE NEEDED? In order for a foreign person to make a life in the US they need a legal way to do that. I help give them an opportunity to make a life for themselves and their families. Some come from very difficult situations and others are ready for a change of

family members and others wishing to move here, by developing an immigration strategy that will work to one day enable them to join our BRS community from wherever they live in the world.

In addition to Immigration Services, we also focus on Intellectual Property. Our firm has also helped people in the community with protecting their patent ideas and the trademark names of their products and businesses. If one doesn't protect your idea by a patent it can be taken from you. For some companies, their most valuable asset is their name and my firm has helped protect names like TheShmuz, Uncle Moishy. Shlock Rock etc.

country to build their lives. Unfortunately, many people either try to do their immigration papers themselves or have difficult cases that need experienced attorneys to obtain a successful result. It pains me to hear of cases that people did not bring to me and that I could have helped on and instead they had an unsuccessful result and in some cases could not be reversed.

There is a lot riding on the cases for many people and because I feel their anxiety and care for each case I feel some of the enjoyment when the case succeeds. Some of the most enjoyable moments I have experienced are having success with cases for people in the BRS community in which I see them at Shul and on more than one occasion they remind me about how much the positive result of their case has changed

LASTLY, WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING OUTSIDE OF WORK? I love being a mother and raising my six children with my husband, Farley. You can often find me riding my bike around the Circle, reading, cooking, volunteering in the community through the BRS Greeter Program and our weekly flower delivery service to new BRS members as well as visiting a local nursing home and playing piano for them as well as inspiring them with words of Torah and interesting stories.

their lives.

Learn more about Jessica Weiss, Esq by visiting AttorneyJessicaWeiss.com

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WARMLY WELCOMING OUR NEWEST MEMBERS: Avi Stern - Century Grill Ethan Beck -Lox N Bagel Mark Matiash - Law Offices of Mark Matiash Elie Mendelson, DPM, FACFAS, CWS - Next Step Foot & Ankle Greta Baum - Green Circle Promotional Advertising Mark Applebaum - Uniform Security Agency Jeffrey Lewin - New Compass Coaching Alan Linker - Stifel Financial - The A&R Wealth Management Group Michelle & Rob Meadows - SoBol Ariane Swisa - Bellazoom Photography

TO DATE, BRSNG HAS PROUDLY GENERATED CLOSE TO $200,000 IN REVENUE

Become a member of BSRNG Today! Sign up at www.brsng.org

A

Consumer's Guide to Life Insurance Policies

Craig Novek CFP Financial Professional, Bienenfeld, Lasek & Starr LLC Marc Bienenfeld CPA Financial Advisor & CFO, Bienenfeld, Lasek & Starr LLC

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Most of us plan to buy life insurance.

The question is what type of life insurance to buy and when is the best time to buy it? Often the decision is initiated when our life and livelihood impact others, like when we get married or have our first child.

With so many life insurance products on the market, the decision can be an overwhelming one.

So here is our guide to choosing the life insurance that best meets your personal and financial needs:

Term life insurance can be tailored to your financial and personal needs.

Term Insurance is a time-dependent policy. As the simplest form of life insurance, it is designed to provide you with coverage should you die within a specific time frame. Ideal for those who want substantial coverage but may be on a more limited budget, policy holders like its’ generally lower cost relative to permanent insurance and how they can match the length of the policy to their specific needs. For example, if your goal is to make sure your children have sufficient funds to cover college and graduate school, you can calculate the amount the policy will need to cover and when it will need to end. The policy will terminate either when you die or when the term is up, whichever comes first. Most term policies are structured for a 10–30-year period.

Term life insurance is typically the most affordable life insurance.

Here are some limitations and options: The Limitations: The biggest limitation is implicit in the word “term.”

When your term policy ends, you no longer have a life insurance policy in place.

Term insurance has no cash value component The Options: Once the term ends, you have three options.

Let it go. The policy will automatically lapse if you don’t renew it.

Renew it. But be prepared to pay a higher premium which will probably increase annually and there may be a required medical exam.

Convert it in the earlier years of the policy. If your policy has a convertible clause, you may be able to convert it before the term of the policy ends.

Whole life insurance offers the following features: Permanent Protection: Whole life insurance offers permanent life insurance protection with a guaranteed cash value, assuming premiums are paid based on the schedule set forth by the insurance carrier.

Dividends: Though not guaranteed, a whole life policy provides an opportunity to possibly receive YEARLY dividends Cash Value: A whole life insurance policy provides cash value that can be accessed while you are living. You can generally withdraw money from the cash value tax-free (up to your cost basis) to use at your discretion. The amount withdrawn will be deducted from the cash value and death benefit of the policy. If the withdrawal is chosen as a loan, you will have the option to repay it, which will restore the policy’s value as if the loan had never occurred. Access to a policy’s cash value will increase the chance the policy will lapse, and may result in a tax liability if the policy terminates before the death of the insured.

Premiums: Whole life policies are offered with a variety of premium durations; some policies can be paid with a single premium while others may require premiums for the lifetime of the insured.

The Other Options: Universal Life Insurance, Variable Life Insurance and Indexed Universal Life Insurance While the premiums for whole life insurance are the most expensive and term life insurance is the least expensive, Universal Life Insurance (UL), Variable Life Insurance (VUL) and Indexed Universal Life (IUL), which are all permanent life insurances, fall in between.

Term Life is basic vanilla. Whole Life is more complex.

Whole life insurance policies are a type of permanent life insurance. Unlike term insurance, whole life insurance is not bound by time. You can be a policy holder for your lifetime as long as the premiums are paid.

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(Continued from previous page) Here are some relevant facts about UL, VUL and IUL to help you start your insurance decision-making process: Premium Payments: Universal Life Insurance, Variable Universal Life Insurance and Indexed Universal Life Insurance policies are known for their flexibility and adjustable premium payments. It is important to understand the structure of the premiums. For example, charges are taken from the account value on a monthly basis and as long as there is enough account value to cover the charges, the policy will remain in force. There are also UL policies with secondary guarantees, that may allow policies to remain in force even if there isn’t enough value to cover the charges, provided certain conditions are met.

Investment and Cash value: The basic differences between UL, VUL and UL is where the money is invested and how the cash value accumulates. Universal Life Cash value is based on an interest rate set by the company with a guaranteed minimum. Variable Universal Life provides the ability to invest in the market through separate accounts. Indexed Universal Life policies are based on options on various market indexes.

Risk Tolerance: Risk tolerance and the importance the policy owner places on the cash value are important factors in choosing between Universal Life Insurance, Variable Universal Life Insurance and Indexed Universal Life Insurance policies.

Buying life insurance is not just about the premiums It’s an interesting phenomenon. Most of us do not hesitate to insure our cars or homes. But our most valuable asset is ourselves and our ability to earn an income and provide for our families’ need and wants.

The smartest farmer insures the goose that produces the golden egg NOT the golden egg.

Often, when purchasing a policy, we calculate what our family will need if we are no longer there to support them, the tangible things. However, we don’t consider the intangibles. The bottom line is our life value is a lot greater than whatever we cover by our life insurance death benefit.

Buying life insurance is not a one-and-done deal. Your needs will change with age, financial status and life stages.

Our holistic approach at BLS Wealth Management means we are recommending life insurance as a part of your overall financial plan. We understand your needs and wants, your family dynamics and your retirement timetable and our goal is to be there for each and every insurance policy you may need.

Life insurance helps you prepare for the unexpected and gives you peace of mind. Have questions about what type of policy to buy and when to buy it?

We are here to answer all your questions. Call us at 954.689.9484 or contact cnovek@blsfinancial.com or mbienenfeld@blsfinancial.com Dividends are determined annually, subject to change and not guaranteed.

The decision to purchase life insurance should be based on long-term financial goals and the need for a death benefit. Life insurance is not an appropriate vehicle for short-term savings or short-term investment strategies. Access to cash values through borrowing or partial surrenders will reduce the policy’s cash value and death benefit, increase the chance the policy will lapse, and may result in a tax liability if the policy terminates before the death of the insured. You should know that there may be little to no cash value available for loans in the policy’s early years. CRN202305-282609

Buying Life Insurance is Not Just About The Premiums.

DIVORCE IS NEVER A SIMPLE SOLUTION DIVORCE MEDIATION SERVICES & FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO COUPLES WITH AND WITHOUT ATTORNEYS. MEMBER OF THE BRS COMMUNITY I STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL I FREE CONSULTATION

Deborah Beylus

Certified Certified Florida Florida Supreme Supreme Court Court Family Family Mediator Mediator & & Certified Certified Divorce Divorce Financial Financial Analyst Analyst

561-789-0710

info@southfloridamediationservices.com info@southfloridamediationservices.com www.southfloridamediationservices.com www.southfloridamediationservices.com

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2021

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THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF DIVORCE Written by: Deborah Beylus, Certified Florida Supreme Court Family Mediator & Certified Divorce Financial Analyst

When deciding to divorce, it is recommended for the parties to educate themselves on various financial considerations, provide an overview regarding their options for getting divorced (i.e., litigation, mediation, collaborative), and organize their required financial materials and documents, which will help contain the cost of the process. Before hiring a lawyer or mediator, it is imperative for the parties to gain an understanding of their primary issues and details about their financial situation.

If marriage is all about love, then divorce is all about money. And when people are going through a divorce, they must keep their focus on the money. Divorces are now much more financially complicated than they were just ten or fifteen years ago. It is not unusual for marital assets to include residential and commercial real estate, sophisticated financial investments, complex employee compensation packages, and closely-held businesses or professional practices. Finances, financial projections and analyses aren’t taught in law school—and good divorce lawyers understand they may not have the expertise to handle the financial complexities of their clients’ cases in settlement conferences.

When no-fault divorce statutes were enacted in Florida, the divorce epidemic began. Family issues were decided in court and many couples came out feeling punished, bruised, and bitter. In court, there is clearly either a winner or a loser.

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The expenses of a divorce are unlikely to deter a couple that truly needs to split, but experts say they should still be aware of just how high the bill can get. It some cases, the financial consequences can set the parties back decades. However, there are so many financial aspects of divorce that must be balanced that if parties aren’t careful, they can end up in a big money mess.

This means that more and more family law attorneys and individuals look to professionals to assist them and their client. Clients going through a divorce are in a “crisis mode” and the cost of these professionals can be staggering. Money is a huge source of uncertainty and fear-based arguments in many divorces. When mediating a divorce case with a Mediator with financial knowledge in divorce related matters, the parties benefit from the family law attorneywho bringslegal expertise to the table and from themediatorwho brings financial expertise to the table- both are key ingredients to the overall settlement. As a mediator with financial knowledge, I help allay some of the fears by helping explore settlement options that avoid common financial pitfalls, watching out for tax issues. When clients feel more secure, they’re able to make better choices about their futures.

When it’s time for settlement, you and your clients need a mediator who is knowledgeable about the issues in divorce, understands the financials, gets the job done and a mediator who deals only with these type of cases.

Whether it is divorce, alimony, custody or postjudgment issues, allow Deborah Beylus of South Florida Mediation Services to mediate the case to help you negotiate what matters to you and your clients in a balanced manner.

Deborah Beylus can be reached at her Boca Raton office at 561-789-0710. www.southfloridamediationservices.com

5 LUCRATIVE WAYS TECHNOLOGY CAN TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS

BY

GILA

STERN

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Businesses are now relying more and more on technology to pave way for their success. If you are trying to find ways to expand your business profit and ensure better growth, chances are that technology can make a lot of difference for your business, provided you are leveraging the right methods and tools for the same.

Not only are we talking about reading through gandi hosting review for your business website, but we are also going to discuss some of the crucial ways technology can effectively transform your business for the better.

Here’s how technology can help your business prosper.

Better Project Management Several technological resources, tools, and interventions have now paved the way for better project management. Not only do they help you track your business and progress in a project, but they are also ideal in helping you plan the proper and timely execution of the projects without delays and roadblocks. Several technologies now enable better collaboration between team members for synced progress.

Easier Payment Collection Long gone are the days when businesses had to rely on the staple bank transfers for payments. With technology, businesses are now switching to web-based payments, which are a lot safer and efficient. Also, different web-based payment options make the process of payments a lot more accessible to people across the world.

Enhanced User Engagement Another crucial reason why technology is crucial for businesses is that it drives better user engagement. The gandi website hosting can get you a responsive website but integrating the right kind of technology ensures better and improved user engagement, which is key for the growth and prosperity of any business around you. From helping users navigate easily through your business website to helping you land your next deals and projects; these can help you in more ways than one.

Improved Marketing Campaigns Marketing is crucial when it comes to the growth and development of a business.

With the new kinds of technology and tools, more and more businesses are now tapping into their uses to integrate effective marketing campaigns to the business’ end goals. Just ensure that you follow through with the right instructions associated with the maximum hit and benefit. Compared to traditional marketing strategies, technology-based marketing campaigns reap better results, especially when it comes to the outreach and growth of the businesses.

Improved Customer Service Every business’s goodwill depends on the way they treat their customers. If you are failing to meet your customer’s needs manually, technology can effectively change that for you. Not only does it help improve the modes of communication, but it also helps your customers get better solutions to things without any complications and delay.

If you are still refraining from making the maximum use of technology for your business, now is the time to make the rightful transformation. Not only do you need to be mindful of the tools and resources you are using, but you also need to ensure that you are making the most use out of the products of technology to drive better growth for your business in the long run.

Source: https://www.newsanyway.com/2021/06/22/5-lucrative-ways-technology-can-transform-your-business/

Senior Options has been providing concierge care management services to the South Florida community since 2011. Our Aging Life Care Professionals oversee and coordinate care for older adults and people with disabilities whose loved ones live near and far.

YOUR LOCAL EXPERT ON AGING WELL Shari Geller, MSW, CMC President 561-372-8026 I shari@senioroptionsfl.com

W W W . S E N I O R O P T I O N S F L . C O M

TRUE COMFORT OF MOURNERS: ARE

WE

GETTING

COMFORTABLE

TOO

WITH

WHATSAPP?

BY

RABBI

DIRECTOR

OF

JEWISH

JAY

LYONS,

SOUTH

FLORIDA

CEMETERY

How many times recently have we been able to proudly observe, “Mi k’amcha Yisrael?”

We have been comforted through too many tragedies to count by recognizing the instinctive reaction we have as Jews to console and help each other through pain.

Yet even as we continue to put those spiritual genes to work in new and innovative ways, mobilizing technology and social media to create broader, faster networks of support, we need to make sure that we are not inadvertently hurting our efforts – or causing additional harm to the very people we want to help.

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When we hear of fellow Jews going through a loss, we admirably ask, “How can I help?” While nichum aveilim, comforting mourners, is a very broad topic, our fundamental goal is to give the aveilim the message that they are cared for and thought about, and that their community is with them. Chazal provide us timeless guidelines for a shivah visit, where our aim is to allow the mourners to have meaningful conversations about the deceased in order to process their loss. But what happens to these goals when the messages of consolation go digital? While this question applies to any type of posting, what specifically does WhatsApp-style communication do to our efforts?

WhatsApp poses three primary obstacles to true comfort, in the halachic, emotional, and practical realms.

Halachically, Chazal teach that we do not attempt to console a mourner before the deceased is buried, because it is considered too raw a time for the mourners to properly process the support. When people on a chat respond to news of a loss immediately, without regard to where the mourner is in the initial stage of loss, the messages contradict this halacha that protects the mourners.

Emotionally, messages sent too early, and especially when part of a flood of such messages, become more of an impulsive reaction on the part of the sender than the real comfort they are meant to convey, and can easily be overwhelming. Practically speaking, before burial the mourners are engrossed in making arrangements, a tremendously stressful task in itself. When their phones are dinging, pinging, and vibrating with too-early messages of consolation, the messages are reduced to digital clutter and can easily be perceived as a bother and as lacking sensitivity.

The mode of communication also lends itself to a lack of sensitivity. Texting “lingo” with acronyms such as “BDE” cheapen what is otherwise supposed to be a lofty sentiment. Emojis such as a yellow face crying are not befitting the dignity of the deceased or the mourners involved. Messages sent to a group chat, in response to an announcement post, are also lacking; no one would enter a shivah house and immediately address the entire group with a general statement for all to hear of “I’m so sorry for your loss.” There is a casual, flip quality to the conventions of texting and posting that doesn’t belong in a written message of comfort; the format is unserious, and thus comes across as not deep enough to encompass the true feelings the sender wants to express.

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The mode of communication also lends itself to a lack of sensitivity. Texting “lingo” with acronyms such as “BDE” cheapen what is otherwise supposed to be a lofty sentiment. Emojis such as a yellow face crying are not befitting the dignity of the deceased or the mourners involved. Messages sent to a group chat, in response to an announcement post, are also lacking; no one would enter a shivah house and immediately address the entire group with a general statement for all to hear of “I’m so sorry for your loss.” There is a casual, flip quality to the conventions of texting and posting that doesn’t belong in a written message of comfort; the format is unserious, and thus comes across as not deep enough to encompass the true feelings the sender wants to express.

So is there a place for WhatsApp in nichum aveilim?

Likely there is, as long as we ensure that we are putting the avel’s needs first, rather than our own need to feel empathic or helpful. We can give the same forethought to WhatsApp messages that we do to our words in a shivah house. We can wait to send messages until after burial; we can avoid cheapening our messages with acronyms and emojis; we can message the mourner privately rather than responding to a group. The person posting the news of a loss can remind group members to respect the needs of the mourners and not respond to the chat, which gives chat members permission to not acknowledge the post directly. And we can do some of what we do best as a community, mobilizing support by designating a point of contact for people to offer practical help separately.

When we hear of people in pain, it is natural to want to lessen that pain as quickly as possible. But loss is complicated and comforting mourners requires careful weighing of words and deeds; lightning-quick, poorly timed, impulsively worded responses can sting and wound.

Let’s ensure that the efficiency and convenience of WhatsApp, and of social media in general, is adapted to our communication needs – such that crystal-clear comfort is transmitted, rather than garbled into a message that looks nothing like our true sentiments.

Rabbi Jay Lyons is the Director of South Florida Jewish Cemetery , a non-profit Jewish Cemetery in Lake Worth, Florida.

CONTACT US TODAY! TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED VISIT WWW.HATZALAHPBC.ORG INFO@HATZALAHPBC.ORG

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2021

NETWORKING

PAGE 15

Rosh Hashana: A New Year For You & Your Florida Business By: Stuart Silverman, Esq.

Many of us approach Rosh

1. Minimum wage is going up on September 30th

Hashanah and Yom Kippur with a whole list of ways to improve

Florida voters decided to increase the minimum wage and that increase starts

ourselves. effective September 30th. The new minimum This year, I will show up at morning minyan; I’ll

wage will be $10/hr up from $8.65/hr. For those

even show up early. I’ll learn more be more

of you in the restaurant business the minimum

patient more giving more thankful. I’ll exercise

tipped wage goes up to $6.98/hr and tips. For

more, I won’t have 4 dips in Shabbos just 3.

the next 5 years the minimums will increase by

Many of these kaballahs or resolutions don’t

a dollar an hour on September 30th, until the

last more than a few months as we

minimum wage reaches $15/hr.

sometimes think there is no outside force encouraging us to continue to mend our

Just a friendly reminder, if you don’t pay

ways

minimum wage in Florida the employee may

.

sue for double damages and attorney’s fees

Rosh Hashanah is also a good time to

and costs. Rest assured if a lawsuit gets filed

examine our business and here we have an

the attorney’s fees will be astronomically more

outside force, changing laws to get us to

than the doubled minimum wage award. As an

improve.

added “bonus” many lawsuits are against not

So if you are a seasoned Floridian or new to

only the company but the principal as an

this state there are a couple of state changes

employer.

and federal changes that affect your business with regards to your employees.

(Continued on next page)

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2021

NETWORKING

PAGE 16

2. Covid protection

Effective March 29th, Florida Covid immunity protection was signed into law. Companys are protected from claims that a plaintiff’s claim for Covid-19 related damage or injury occurred because of the defendant’s conduct. There is, a big catch to this immunity; the defendant must show a good faith effort to substantially comply with authoritative or controlling government issued health standards or guidance that occurred at the time of the cause of action.

For example, if the person says he contracted covid on September 1st, we look at the government health standards or guidance that were in effect. If the business made a good faith effort to comply it will be immune, if not then the case continues.

Like it or not, the CDC changes its guidance often; businesses need to be mindful to follow the latest guidance and comply if it wants to fully benefit from this immunity.

3. Overtime Issues

Did you know that the federal courts in South Florida have more overtime cases than any other federal court system in the US? Yep, Central Florida is #2. Overtime or wage and hour issues are always an issue here. Employers need to be very careful to see if their “employees” are really employees not independent contractors. And here is where the fun begins; the same test used in the state to determine if someone is an employee is not sued for overtime purposes. It can happen that your worker may be an independent contractor for payroll taxes but entitled to overtime. These misclassifications are common.

Also, the Department of Labor is not ashamed of investigating hot Florida industries. About 7 years ago, the Department of Labor issued subpoenas to almost every South Beach restaurant and the Tampa office did the same to almost every Tampa hotel! Applying a simple “kal v’chomer” if the DOL will investigate the bread and butter Florida industries for overtime violations then surely if will investigate “regular’ Florida businesses.

The DOL will do more investigations this year and last fiscal year collected a record of over 305 million dollars. That number will be easily eclipsed this year.

4. Non compete agreements

President Biden stated that he wants the feds to investigate non-compete agreements. Noncompetes are getting the rap as bad for the economy and suppressors of wages which there are studies that show the exact opposite. While non-compete agreements are governed by state law, they are premised on federal antitrust restraint of trade principles.

In 2016 the Obama White House published a paper on non-competes which led to some states limiting the scope. You may see the same here with (just a guess) restrictions on types of jobs and salary amounts excluded from non-competes.

Non-completes will have strength when they are designed to protect legitimate business interest and the company shows how that is related to a certain employer. It is a good time to review your non competes and see if they really protect what you want to protect.

While this is a time of personal introspection let us not forget the employee relation issues. A little time spent now may help the business run smother and avoid headache heartache and big expenses later.

Stuart M. Silverman, Esq. practices labor and employment law in Boca Raton, Florida. He may be reached directly at smslawfirm@aol.com or 561-289-9319 .

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2021

NETWORKING

behind the scenes

PAGE 17

BRSNG Happy Hour on July 27, 2021 Hosted by Physical Therapy Now West Boca

BRSNG was recently featured in Jewish Action Magazine.

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Jackie Markovitch, President Wind Mitigation Retrofit Solutions, LLC. Direct: 561-414-7998 E-Mail: jm@windmitsolutions.com www.windmitsolutions.com

BRSNG Monthly meeting on August 4, 2021 Hosted by Lox N Bagel, sponsored by Hercules Roofing

WISHING OUR COMMUNITY A HAPPY, HEALTHY & SAFE NEW YEAR REPRESENTING INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES THROUGHOUT SOUTH FLORIDA FOR CATASTROPHIC CLAIMS Practice Areas: Personal Injury Wrongful Death Car Accidents Premises Liability Slip & Fall Medical Malpractice Insurance Disputes

Free Case Evaluation 888-677-7796 www.opplawfirm.com

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2021

NETWORKING

RENTING A CAR?

PAGE 18

2 TIPS ABOUT CAR RENTAL INSURANCE THAT COULD SAVE YOU BIG MONEY

By Daniel Oppenheimer, Esq.

If you don't know about insurance before you rent a car, it could be very costly. Friends often ask me about rental car insurance. Should I buy the rental car company's insurance? If I pay with my credit card, doesn't my credit card protect me? Does my car insurance cover me in the rental car? Not surprisingly, the answer to all of these questions is not a simple yes or no. Here are two helpful tips to save money and make sure you are covered.

Tip one, know your own insurance coverage. If you carry Comprehensive/Collision and Bodily Injury insurance on your own car insurance, you probably do not need the insurance from the rental car company. Nearly all of your own car insurance coverages, such as Uninsured Motorist and Personal Injury Protection, apply when you operate a rental car. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, for example, if you rent a car outside the United States, your insurance may not provide coverage.

Tip two, use your credit card to rent the car. Your credit card may provide extra coverage. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express offer different rental car coverages for each of their cards. Typically these credit cards offer (a) Collision Damage Waiver, (b) Loss Damage Waiver, and (c) Towing. This means that: (a) in the event that your rental car is damaged in an accident, the damage to your rental car will be covered; (b) in the event that your rental car is stolen, you will be covered; and (c) if your rental car needs to be towed, your towing charges are covered. It is important to remember that Liability coverage - coverage for the harm you cause to someone else in an accident - is not provided by your credit card

If you have car insurance with comprehensive, collision, and liability coverage, you should decline the coverage from the car rental company and use a credit card that provides additional layers of protection and coverage.

As always, every situation is unique and we advise you to review your own car insurance and card holder agreements carefully to determine what coverages are available to you.

The Oppenheimer Law Firm offers free insurance reviews to help you understand the coverage you have before you, G-d Forbid, need to use it!

Call or text today to schedule your review 888-677-7796 or visit www.opplawfirm.com

company.

Daniel Oppenheimer, Esq. is Managing Director of The

So, bottom line, Should I buy coverage from the rental car company?

Oppenheimer Law Firm

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2021

NETWORKING

Upcoming Events All meetings begin at 8:15 am and are held in the Boca Raton Synagogue Social Hall unless otherwise designated.

PAGE 19

Membership Meeting

September 1, 2021

Membership Meeting

October 6, 2021

Membership Meeting

November 3, 2021

Membership Directory (as of 8.3.21)

Member Directory Accounting Services

TOVA CHAIT, CPA

SHLOMO HALBERSTAM, CPA

TZVI (STEVE) SHERR, CPA

Echelon CFO, LLC 561-768-5363 tova@echeloncfo.com

Prime Consultants

Dazskal Bolton LLP

347-522-1745 shlomo@primeconsultants.us

954-551-4980 Ssherr@dbllp.com

ILANA WITTELS Beyond Bookkeeping Services Corp.

201-280-0153 bbscorpnj@icloud.com

Business Services & Solutions

Media / Branding

Business / Leisure Travel Services

Consulting

GILA STERN

GORDON HAAS

SPARXiQ

Haasco Marketing LLC

561-929-6536 gila.stern@sparxiq.com

908-313-0246 ghaas.gecc@gmail.com

Computer/IT Services

Business & Personal Coaching

JAY BERNTEN

JEFF LEWIN

Vista Travel Inc. 617-777-8477 jbernten@vistatravelinc.com

New Compass Coaching 954-205-3479 drjefflewin@gmail.com

Web/App Development & Design Services

CARMI GROSS

RHEA COHEN

STEPHEN PLOTSKER

Greenlight Tek

Web Design & Marketing

Noora Digital

561-702-6500 cgross@greenlighttek.com

561-715-3115 rheacohenwebdesign@gmail.com

212-882-1557 stephen@nooradigital.com

Member Directory Financial Advisory & Insurance Services

Wealth Management/Insurance

Special Needs Planning

Employee Benefits

MARC BIENENFELD, CPA

ALAN LINKER, AIF , CHSNC

STEVE ABRAMS

Bienenfeld, Lasek & Starr LLC 954-689-9517 mbienenfeld@blsfinancial.com

Stifel Financial Corp.

561-982-2668 Alan.linker@stifel.com

Aflac 561-213-5257 Steven_Abrams@us.aflac.com

Public Insurance Adjuster

Home/Auto Insurance

BRIAN GATELY

ELI CASPER

GGI Risk Advisors 561-770-7070 brian@gatelygroup.com

Echelon Public Adjusting. LLC 561-797-8991 EchelonPublicAdjusting@gmail.com

Restaurants / Catering / Corporate Catering

TODD & NAOMI COHN Cinnaholic 561-617-7277 cinnaholicboca@gmail.com

AVI STERN

ETHAN BECK

MICHELLE & ROB MEADOWS

Century Grill 561-571-6144 centurygrillboca@gmail.com

Lox N Bagel 561-245-8363 kosherloxnbagel@gmail.com

SoBol 561-485-4200 bocaraton@mysobol.com

Member Directory Healthcare

Home Health Care

Care Management

Internal Medicine

SAL ABADY

JOSEPH (JB) BENSMIHEN

SHARI M. GELLER, MSW, CMC

DR. AARON KLEIN

Auracal Senior HomeCare

Visiting Angels

Senior Options

Boca Care Concierge

561-212-7911 salabady@gmail.com

561-289-9495 jbensmihen@gmail.com

561-372-8026 shari@senioroptionsfl.com

561-955-5847 aklein@brrh.com

Dentistry

DR. CRAIG LUSTMAN

DR. GIL BLOOM

DR. MARC (MORDY) GOLDENBERG

Wendroff & Bloom Dental

Goldenberg Orthodontics

Kids United Pediatric Dentistry

617-584-8553 dgbloom@gmail.com

561-756-9227 info@goldenbergorthodontics.com

561-483-9334 hello@kidsunitedsmiles.com

Podiatry

Pediatric Medicine

Emergency & Pediatric Medicine

ELIE MENDELSON, DPM, FACFAS, CWS

DR. Y. AARON KAWEBLUM

NATALIE AKERMAN, FNP

Next Step Foot & Ankle 561-483-4448 DrM@nextstepboca.com

Boca Del Mar Pediatrics

East Boca Family Care

561-573-8993 akaweblum@aol.com

347-432-1063 eastbocafamilycare@gmail.com

Member Directory Physical Therapy

ANDREW HAUPTMAN

TREVOR MEYEROWITZ

DR. YITZCHOK KOLODNY

Physical Therapy Now West Boca 561-327-4252 westboca@physicaltherapynow.com

Preferred Physical Therapy 561-542-0600 tmeyerowitz@gmail.com

Therapy on Wheels 561-666-CARE ptonwheels@gmail.com

General & Addiction Psychiatry

Addiction & Rehabilitation Treatment Facility

Lymphedema Therapy

DR. AKIVA M. DAUM, MD, FAPA

JUDAH SCHOCHET, LCSW

PAMELA COHEN, PT-CLT/LANA

The Daum Difference 954-755-2885 drdaum@kimmelpsychology.com

Onward Living 561-803-2648 jschochet@onwardliving.org

LymphaTx 561-392-5131 PCohen@lymphatx.com

Periodontology & Oral Implantology

DIANA BRONSTEIN, DDS

S. Bronstein, LLC 267-391-9294 brabins@msn.com

Medical Billing

Healthcare Consulting

AYELET MAY

JUSTIN ROSENTHAL

Medical Billing 646-404-4414 ayelet613@gmail.com

Healthcare Consultants International.com 415-910-9910 healthcareconsultantsint.com@gmail.com

Member Directory Legal Services

Mediation

Class Action Law

DEBORAH BEYLUS

JEFFREY M. KORENTUR

JULIAN HAMMOND

South Florida Mediation Services 561-789-0710 info@southfloridamediationservices.com

Apollo Mediation Group 561-735-1934 jeff@apollomediation.com

Hammond Law, P.C. 310-601-6766 hammond.julian@gmail.com

Immigration Law

Real Estate Law

Labor / Employment Law

JESSICA WEISS, ESQ.

MARK MATIASH, ESQ.

STUART SILVERMAN

Weiss & Moy, PC 602-380-2772 jessicaw@weissiplaw.com

Law Offices of Mark Matiash 561-571-5725 markm@matiashlaw.com

Stuart M. Silverman. P.A. 561-289-9319 smslawfirm@gmail.com

Personal Injury Law

DANIEL OPPENHEIMER

ALEX SHKOLYAR

The Oppenheimer Law Firm 888-677-7796 do@opplawfirm.com

Kanner & Pintaluga 646-644-4999 Ashkolyar@kpattorney.com

Member Directory Event Planning

Entertainment Services

Promotional Advertising Products

ALEX BERGER

HOWARD PITCH

GRETA BAUM

Brilliant Events by Alex

The Howard Pitch Entertainment Co., Inc.

561-414-9358 alex@brillianteventsbyalex.com

312-998-0910 howard@howardpitch.com

Green Circle Promotional Advertising 561-221-2850 greta@greencirclepromo.com

Photography

ARIANE SWISA Bella Zoom Photography 561-716-1818 arianekadoch@hotmail.com

Non-Profit

Funeral/Cemetery

Disability Services

DEENA BORZAK

CHERYL SARAGOSSI

South Florida Jewish Cemetery 561-264-4364 dborzak@sfjc.org

Stand Among Friends 561-297-4402 cheryl@standamongfriends.org

Member Directory Real Estate Services

Residential Property Mgmt

Residential

YOSEF SHAYOWITZ

NEIL SISKIND

Lokation Real Estate 561-299-0113 yosefsellsflorida@gmail.com

Nightlight Management / Nightlight Vacations 646-866-4419 NightlightmanagementFL@gmail.com

Mortgage Services

LEORA KAUFMAN

BAR GAFRI

FM Home Loans, LLC

Hypotec Inc.

845-216-4514 lkaufman@fmm.com

561-908-4342 barg@hypotec.com

Home Inspections

Commercial Lighting Sol.

JAY ZUSSMAN

ZEV HERMAN

Golden City Home Inspections

Superior Lighting

561-451-6008 goldencityhomeinspections@gmail.com

zev@superiorlighting.com

Member Directory Construction / Home Improvement Services

GIL STEIN

AVI GENUTH

URI NACHIM

Hercules Roofing

WeDry US

Surface Stone Group

561-955-9889 gil@herculesroofing.com

845-641-5540 avi@wedryus.com

561-818-9086 uri@surfacestonegroup.com

JACKIE MARKOVITCH

LEVI GERBER

Wind Mitigation Retrofit Solutions

L&G Plumbing

561-414-7998 jm@windmitsolutions.com

954-601-3065 Levi@lgplumbing.com

Home Services & Solutions

Security Services

MATIEL BUCHNIK

ISAAC HERSH

MARK APPLEBAUM

Mosquito Hunters of South Florida

BlindsPros

Uniform Security Agency

561-270-6422 mattbuchnik@mosquitohunters.com

561-413-0060 info@blindspros.com

561-406-4888 mark@uniformsecurityagency.com

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2021

NETWORKING

PAGE 29

ABOUT BRSNG DEVELOP I INTERACT I GROW I CONNECT

MISSION: The Boca Raton Synagogue Network Group (BRSNG) is committed to providing excellent opportunities to develop business connections and growth enhanced with Jewish values through interaction with fellow entrepreneurs and business leaders in a relaxing, social and professional setting.

ABOUT US: The BRSNG is a quality forum for respected professionals to create circles of influence. The Group strengthens relationships among our community’s Jewish professionals through education, networking and communal and philanthropic engagement. The BRSNG provides opportunities to expand your professional and social circles while making a meaningful difference within our community.

The Rambam says that the highest form of Tzedakah (Charity) is to help establish someone in Business.

The BRSNG will create the avenue where people will have the opportunity to fulfil this mitzvah. Not only by helping other professionals expand their circle of influence but also by donating portions of membership fees. As a member of The BRSNG, your annual membership fee of $180 will be allotted toward events and a donation to Tomchei Shabbos or The Rabbi’s discretionary fund. (We are a registered 501c3 organization and your contribution is tax deductible.)

By bringing together the business professionals of the BRS Community in a sophisticated, exciting and supportive environment, that is based on common Jewish heritage, values and spirituality, we endeavor to help BRSNG members make great contacts, leading to great business opportunities.

Benefits of a BRSNG Membership: Member listing and link to company website featured on the BRSNG webpage Networking opportunities with other professionals at monthly meetings 30-second business spotlight at networking meetings Your company materials displayed at networking meetings Access to sponsorship opportunities Member-exclusive Facebook group BRSNG Annual Membership Fees: Synagogue Members: $180 Non-Members: $500

Interested in becoming a member?

Visit www.BRSNG.org

HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEAR F r e e F r e e

E s

t

i m a

t

e s

I n s

t

a l l a

t

i o n

INFO@BLINDSPROS.COM 561-413-0060 www.blindspros.com

Marc Bienenfeld, CPA Financial Advisor O: 954-689-9517 C: 305-778-4744 mbienenfeld@blsfinancial.com

SHOW OFF YOUR BUSINESS!

Advertise in the next issue of NETWORKING For more information email gila.stern@sparxiq.com

www.brsng.org